Spain Weighs Starting Lamine Yamal With Strict 45‑Minute Limit

Overview

• Spain, which were held to a 0-0 draw on June 15, are considering starting 18-year-old Lamine Yamal against Saudi Arabia to boost a blunt attack.
• Cope and team sources report medical staff now judge Yamal fit to play roughly 45 minutes, so any start would likely include a planned halftime substitution.
• Yamal returned from a left hamstring tear sustained on April 22 with a brief substitute cameo of about 17–19 minutes in the opener as part of a non‑surgical, staged rehab program.
• Coach Luis de la Fuente and teammates have expressed public support for Yamal while stressing caution, and Barcelona medical staff remain aligned with Spain to avoid relapse.
• If Yamal starts, Spain must score early because the team will carry a deliberate minutes cap, and managers will monitor his load closely with the substitution pattern offering a clear sign of the medical plan.